Patents Examined by David Harvey
  • Patent number: 8634701
    Abstract: An digital data reproducing apparatus and a method for controlling the same are discussed. The method includes obtaining, by the digital data reproducing apparatus, emotion information associated with at least one of a user and a content, modifying at least one of audio and video characteristics of a content for reproduction based on at least the emotion information, and reproducing the content based on the modified at least one of audio and video characteristics of the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Mingoo Kang, Haengjoon Kang, Jongsoon Park, Jinyung Park, Jongcheol Kim, Junho Park, Sunjung Hwang
  • Patent number: 8630536
    Abstract: Identification of starting and ending times of commercial breaks and commercials within those commercial breaks found in audiovisual content is disclosed. A solution to a “batch optimization” problem is used in which commercial locations within a set of audiovisual content are detected as a group by choosing a set of commercial locations which optimizes a cost function which can include considerations of, for example, 1) one or more cues, 2) relative locations of commercials within the audiovisual content, and/or 3) probability models based on statistics obtained regarding characteristics of typical commercial and commercial breaks. Optimization can be done over the total set of commercial location decisions, rather than on a per-commercial basis. Additionally, the cost function can be iteratively evaluated and many more types of cues and combinations of cues can be used in detection of commercials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Interval Licensing LLC
    Inventor: Michael L. Harville
  • Patent number: 8625962
    Abstract: Content reproducing apparatus includes a synchronization control section that transmits synchronization control signals including information specifying a program to a program executing section which generates bitmap data of an image to be overlaid with content data and stores the bitmap data in a plurality of buffer memories. The synchronization control section also synchronizes reproduction of content data with (i) generation of bitmap data in the program executing section, and (ii) output of stored bitmap data by an output control section on the basis of respective first and second timing information indicative of first and second time points in a time period during which content data is reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Kiyama, Hideaki Kizuki, Katsushi Ohizumi
  • Patent number: 8625974
    Abstract: Various methods, systems, and apparatuses can be used to obscure advertisements during trick mode operations. In some implementations, the trick mode stream can be selected so as to not include advertisement frames within the trick mode stream. Upon resuming normal operation, the advertisements can be included within the normal playback stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: George Scott Pinson
  • Patent number: 8625966
    Abstract: A reproducing apparatus and method including a video data acquiring section, a program and program management information; a video reproduction section; and a program executing section. According to the result of program execution, first reproduction control information is transmitted to the video reproduction section. Also, an overall control section generates, based on reproduction control manipulation information received via an input section, second reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the video data, and transmits the same to the video reproducing section. The program management information includes a flag indicating whether or not to transmit the second reproduction control information, and the overall controlling section determines, in accordance with the flag, whether to transmit the second reproduction control information. A non-transitory content recording medium for causing a computer to function as the apparatus implementing the method also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Kiyama, Hideaki Kizuki, Katsushi Ohizumi
  • Patent number: 8620137
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for defining entry points for a data stream, in particular a stream of audiovisual information. Entry points in the stream are defined at a predetermined interval. This may be a time interval, a byte interval or any other interval. It is an object of the invention to provide an entry point table having a limited size. This object is achieved by increasing the interval between entry points if the table exceeds a predetermined size. This size may be defined in bytes, in the number of entry points or even in the number of sub-tables. After redefinition of the interval between entry points, entry points are redefined. The invention also relates to an apparatus for defining the entry points and to a record carrier with a data stream incorporating entry points defined by the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Arnoldus Cornelis Bernsen, Wilhelmus Franciscus Johannes Fontijn
  • Patent number: 8606069
    Abstract: A playback device executes playback of video data in sync with an application program associated with the video data. The playback device includes an activating unit for activating the application program, a receiving unit for receiving from a user an input specifying a playback section associated with a piece of video data and an application program, and an activation control unit. If a first input is received from the user by the receiving unit and a second input is received within the predetermined time period from reception of the first input, the activation control unit discards the first input. If a third input is not received within the predetermined time period from reception of the second input, the activation control unit activates an application program according to the second input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Okubo, Masahiro Oashi, Hidetaka Ohto
  • Patent number: 8588584
    Abstract: An information recording medium configured to store stream information including I-picture information of MPEG and control information used to access the stream information. The stream information includes a third data unit including a plurality of second data units each including a plurality of first data units. The first data unit is defined as a pair of a transport packet of 188 bytes and a time stamp appended to the transport packet. The second data unit is defined as a data unit of stream blocks or stream object units. The third data unit is defined as an object data of the stream information. The control information includes map information including time information and position information related to the time information, and entry number information indicating a number of entries in the map information. Also disclosed are methods and apparatuses using the information recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideo Ando, Kazuyuki Uyama, Yuuji Ito, Shinichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8584191
    Abstract: Provided are a method and a system for recording a video broadcast using a video recording device. A system can extract in-band scheduling data and generate scheduling information based on the extracted in-band scheduling data, received scheduling data, and transactional scheduling update. The system can update a recording schedule for a broadcast in response to a determined scheduling update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Michael Grannan, Brad Medford
  • Patent number: 8582950
    Abstract: For a large capacity recording medium, a user interface having high flexibility and enriched representation is accomplished. A flag that represents whether a play item has a multiple angle structure of which the play item is reproduced with a plurality of angles is described. In addition, a flag that represents whether the beginning of each decode unit is an angle switchable point is described. In a seamless multiple angle structure, the current angle can be switched without need to increase the number of interleave units. In a nonseamless multiple angle structure, with the flag, in a predetermined region on the rear end side of each angle, the current angle is prohibited from being switched. Thus, when a play item exits from the multiple angle, discontinuity in the reproduction can be prevented. In addition, with a flag that represents whether a sub play item should be reproduced not in synchronization with a main path, the sub play item of only audio data can be used as a BGM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiya Hamada, Motoki Kato
  • Patent number: 8565575
    Abstract: A video disk player includes (i) a disk reading section for reading out video data, a program, synchronization timing information from an optical disk; (ii) a clock for generating a clock signal; (iii) a decoder for converting, in accordance with the clock signal, the video data into decompressed video data for reproduction output; (iv) a video reproducing section including a synchronization control section for transmitting, in accordance with the clock signal, a synchronization control signal to the program executing section at a timing specified by a field timing contained in the synchronization timing information, and (v) a program executing section for executing a program in accordance with the synchronization control signal received from the synchronization control section. This makes it possible to efficiently execute the program in synchronization with reproduction of AV data or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Kiyama, Hideaki Kizuki, Katsushi Ohizumi
  • Patent number: 8554053
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable recording medium and method and apparatus for reproducing and recording text subtitle streams including a style segment and presentation segments. The style segments define a region style, and each presentation segment contains a region subtitle associated with a region subtitle and presentation time information defining a presentation time of a corresponding presentation segment. The recording medium and method allow text subtitle streams to be more efficiently and effectively reproduced and recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jea Yong Yoo, Si Jung Noh, Kang Soo Seo, Byung Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 8548307
    Abstract: The present invention facilitates reading in advance information on addresses where data of each reproduction path to be reproduced is stored. Clip AV stream 1 to Clip AV stream 3 of angles forming a multiangle are managed by PlayList#1 to PlayList#3 for the different angles. Each of PlayList#1 to PlayList#3 is divided by angle change points. Each of the divided reproducing sections corresponds to a PlayItem. Correspondences between source packet numbers and presentation time stamps of the angle change points are recorded in an EP_map. The present invention is applicable to DVD recording and reproducing apparatus, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Motoki Kato
  • Patent number: 8542982
    Abstract: In a video editing apparatus (100) a first video data set describes a first scene in a first video. Among second video data sets describing second scenes contained in a plurality of second videos, third video data sets are identified that represent third scenes having the highest degree of similarity with the first scenes. Audio data sets associated with the third scenes are evaluated. Among a plurality of second audio data sets such audio data sets describing soundtracks having the highest degree of similarity with the first soundtracks may be identified. One of the third audio data sets may be combined with the first video data set to generate a media output data set where an audio track is added to the video data set in accordance with the preferences of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Jana Eggink
  • Patent number: 8538240
    Abstract: The computer readable medium stores an executable data structure for managing reproduction of text by a reproducing apparatus. The data structure includes at least one text subtitle stream having a style segment and at least one presentation segment. The style segment defines a group of region styles, and the presentation segment contains at least one region of text. The region of text is linked to a selected one of the group of region styles defined in the style segment by an identifier. The style segment and the at least one presentation segment are encapsulated into respective PES packets. The presentation segment contains a continuous presentation flag indicating whether continuous presentation is required for the presentation segment with a previous presentation segment. A presentation start time of the presentation segment is equal to presentation end time of the previous presentation segment when continuous presentation is required for the presentation segment with the previous presentation segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang Soo Seo, Sung Wan Park, Byung Jin Kim, Jea Yong Yoo, Seung Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8538238
    Abstract: Provided is a playback apparatus that has a function of generating a representative image of a moving image recorded in a recording medium. When moving image data of a plurality of clips is played back from the recording medium, a signal processor generates representative image data indicating representative images of clips based on the played-back moving image data, and stores the data in a memory. A display controller generates an index screen using the representative image data stored in the memory, and displays this on a display unit. Here, a controller determines a clip for which representative image data is to be stored in the memory based on the time necessary to generate representative image data, causes the signal processor to generate representative image data of the determined clip, and causes the memory to store that data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 8537282
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
  • Patent number: 8531609
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
  • Patent number: 8531597
    Abstract: A video processing apparatus stores input viewpoint information which indicates on a viewpoint of video to be displayed that of video content constituted by a plurality of videos captured at a plurality of respectively different viewpoint positions. At this time, the input viewpoint information is stored in association with at least one of identification information for identifying the video content and captured viewpoint information that includes information on the plurality of viewpoint positions at which the plurality of videos constituting the video content are captured. The viewpoint corresponding to the stored input viewpoint information is displayed as a selectable viewpoint based on at least one of the identification information and the captured viewpoint information of the video content, when viewing video content that is different from the video content for which the input viewpoint information is already registered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Manabu Umeyama
  • Patent number: 8526792
    Abstract: A recording apparatus records, in a recording medium, moving image data and management information, concerning the moving image data and generated in accordance with the recording operation of the moving image data. In accordance with a recording start instruction, the recording apparatus starts recording of the moving image data and records, in the recording medium, information indicating that the management information has not yet been recorded. In accordance with a recording stop instruction, the recording medium stops recording of the moving image data, generates and records the respective management information, and updates the information indicating the recording status of the management information. If a decrease in electric power is detected during recording of the moving image data, the recording apparatus stops recording of the moving image data, without updating the information indicating the recording status of the management information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Suzuki, Hidenori Hoshi, Hiroaki Endo